Business Immigration and International Criminal Law Firm in Belgium

Lexial

Law Firm Overview

Lexial Law Firm was created in a spirit of innovation and with the desire to implement a distinctly modern approach to the practice of law. Lexial’s innovative geographical footprint allows the firm to serve clients from offices in Brussels, Paris and Geneva dealing with European and international legal issues.

The firm focuses on a limited number of areas of expertise and has a unique approach resulting in a narrow focus on international and European business immigration law and criminal law.

As to business immigration, Lexial possesses proven expertise in the area of international mobility, expats issues and professional / tax immigration, and can advise clients on specific matters including work permit, professional card, citizenship and residence permit in Belgium, France and Switzerland.

In criminal law, our expertise was proven particularly in important cases related to extradition and European Arrest Warrants (EAW).

As some of these cases are related to politics, we are familiar with European Court of Human Rights, including in social law.

Additionally, we assist our clients in all their day-to-day tasks in business and employment law.

Areas of Law Description

- Business Immigration

In Brussels, Paris and Geneva, Lexial is the leading firm in the field of professional immigration for expatriated executives in assisting their employers in various steps for obtaining an authorization of occupation and a work permit, or in setting up a special tax regime for foreign executives, as well as in all legal aspects of the employment relationship and of daily life for these high level employees.

- Criminal and Political law

The firm developed a great expertise in assisting foreign clients prosecuted before Belgian and French criminal courts, at each step of proceedings including preliminary investigations and international or European arrest warrants. In Belgium we are also entitled to plea before Supreme Court in this field.

- Business and Employment

Lexial provides day-to-day assistance in a number of areas, including contracts, debt recovery, corporate issues, insurance matters, both on national and international levels. The firm has created a dedicated cost-controlled package specifically for SMEs, SME Solutions, which facilitates the budgeting of legal fees for smaller businesses that require day-to-day legal support.

Articles Published by Lexial

There is a Belgian paradox insofar as, every year, Belgium is ranked by OECD among the highest taxed countries, based on the ratio of the tax burden (state, regional and local taxes, social contributions) and gross domestic product; within the European Union, Belgium is also known for being the second country with the highest tax burden. But Deloitte and the European Commission refer to sophisticated mechanisms.

Recent events in Paris and Brussels raised legitimate concerns on the side of applicants to business and professional immigration, particularly for those from Middle East. In addition to this context, legal reforms lead to revise the practice, constantly changing. However, as always, these changes are obvious opportunities for those who can adapt.

Although this residence card can be considered as very selective, it should be one of the first options to be analysed by foreign entrepreneurs who wish to run a business in France and to obtain residency in this country.

The law of 4 December 2012 “modifying the Code of Belgian Nationality in order to make the acquisition of the Belgian nationality neutral from the point of view of immigration” was published in the Belgian Official Gazette on 14 December 2012. It entered into force on 1st January 2013.

Obtaining the Belgian professional card is a compulsory step for non-EU citizens who plan to set up a company or to buy a running business in Belgium. With the work permit (for expats as employees) and the wealth card (for people who can prove that their financial means avoid them to work), professional card is also the best way to become a Belgian resident.

Belgium is an attractive country for business, thanks to a central geographic place in EU, a business friendly mentality and an international state of mind. Living on Belgian territory during a certain time is often useful to obtain Belgian citizenship, except if you can prove links with the country. CAUTION: RULES WILL CHANGE AS FROM JANUARY 2013